Chiropractic table



c. H. SCHRE INER.

CHIROPRACTIC TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 23. 1920.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

2 SHEETSQSHEET I.

.C. H. SCHREINER.

V CHIROPRACTIC TABLE. APPLICATION FILED 00123, 1920.

1 ,386,90 1 Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES CHARLES H. SCHREINER, OF ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS.

CHIROPRACTIC TABLE.- I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9,1921.

Application filed October 23, 1920. Serial No. 418,917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. SCHREINER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rock Island, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chiropractic Tables, of whichrthe following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to tables used for medical or surgical work, and particularly to a table designed to be used in chiropractic operations.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a table of this character so constructed that it may be turned to an upright position to receive the patient 'and then lowered to a horizontal position and then,

when the manipulations on the patient have been performed, the table may be returned to its vertical position to permit the patient to readily step from the table onto the floor.

A further object in this connection is to provide means acting to urge the table to its upright position and against the weight of the patient to thereby do away with the necessity of the chiropractorlifting the free end table and provided for putting additionaltension on the spring whenthe patient steps upon the table in its vertical position.

A further object is to provide a pivoted table and means forreturning the table to its vertical position, said means including a cylinder, a plunger, andv a spring acting against theplunger, the table including longitudinally slidable supporting bars operatively connected to the plunger so that when the table is in an upright position, if a relatively heavy person steps on the footboard of the table, the lon itudinal bars will shift to additionally compress the spring within the cylinder, this compression of the spring being held by automatic dogs which hold the spring in its compressed condition'untilthe tableis turned from a horizontal position to its vertical position.

Another object is to provide means whereby the head support and abdominal support may vbe longitudinally adjusted upon the table, and also whereby the head support may be tiltably supported and may .be locked in any adjusted position, and whereby the abdominal support may be yieldingly Figure 1 is a side elevation of a chiro practic table constructed in accordance with my invention; I

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section through the tableon the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is afragmentary top plan ,view' of a portion of the base of the table and th Y vmember 22; of the table to its vertical position, and in v Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the base 10,;

Fig. 5 is a top plan View of the head sup port; I I

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig.1; j f v Fig. 7 is a sectional viewon the line,77 of Fig. 6;

Fig. '8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9- 9 :of

Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line .10-1O of Fig. 1;

11 is an inside fragmentary face view of the foot piece 26, the rod 16 being in section; I

Fig. v12 is a top plan view of the brace 39 and the rods on which it is mounted;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the slide and nut operating on the bracket 85;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary longitudinal sec t1on on the line 14-14 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 15 is a section on the line 1515 of Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the table is supported upon a base, preferably made of cast iron, and somewhat over four feet long, this base, which is, designated 10 generally, comprising vertically extending webs 11 connected by transverse webs l2, l3 and 14. It will be noted that this base has its side walls 11 extending parallel for 5 the width of the web- 12 and that then the side walls converge. The side walls 11 are provided at their forward ends with the for the reception of a screw-threaded rod '21, as will be later described.

The opposite ends of the tubular members are connected by a casting 22 formed "toprovide-sleeves23 engaging the tubular rods 16 and formed at opposite points with downwardly extending ears 24 designed to fit between the bearings 15. A pivot bolt or equivalent element 25 passes through the bearings 15 and the ears 24 so that the table 0 "frame is mounted for rocking movement on this pivot bolt. I do not wish to be limited to this particular means for pivotally mounting the'table upon the base.

It is to be understood that the pipes or 5 tubular rods 16 pass slidingly through the sleeves 23, and the extremities of these tubular rods or pipes 16 are connected by means of a foot rest, designated generally 26. This foot rest "is preferably of cast metal and '40 formed to provide two sleeves 27 to receive the pipes 16 and to be rigidly connected vthereto in any suitable manner, either by being held thereto by set screws or being welded thereto. This foot rest is formed below the sleeves 27 with depending spaced ears 28, within which rollers 29 are designed to be mounted, and the inner face of the "foot rest is formed with a transversely extending rib 30 disposed about ten inches from the outer end of the foot rest.

For the purpose of urging the table to an approximately upright position, 1 dispose between the walls 11 of the base a cylinder 31 having a cap 32 at its outer end, and

operating within the cylinder'is a plunger 33 having a rod 34 which extends out through the cap, this plunger operating against a coiled compression spring 35 disposed within the cylinder and hearing at its lower end against a cap 36 which is formed with an ear through which passes the pivot bolt 37 'or like element which is shown as engaging the walls 11. The outer end of v-the plunger rod 34 is .pivotally connected,

as at 38, to a cross piece or casting 39 which is formed to provide sleeves 40 at its ends, through which the tubular rods 16 pass and which are welded or otherwise firmly connected to the tubular rods to move therewith, this brace 39 being formed at its middle with depending ears 41 to which the outer end of the rod 34 is pivotally connected, as before stated. This spring 35 will act to urgethe tiltable table to its vertical position, but in order to hold the table in a horizontal position'against the action of this spring, I form upon the cap 32 the approximately hook-shaped lug 42, and pivot upon the base 10, as for instance upon the web 14, a latch 43, the base of this latch having a lug 44 extending toward the pivotal end of the table through which a pin 45 passes attached to the base, this pin carrying a coiled spring 46 which bears against this prolongation 44 and urges the latch into engagement with the detent lug 42. This latch is provided with a treadle 47 extending oppositely from the prolongation 44 whereby the latch may be released upon pressure by the foot.

For the purpose of supporting the head and shoulders of the patient, I mount upon the rods 16 adjacent the head end of the table the casting 48 having at its ends the sleeves 49 loosely embracing and sliding 95 upon the tubular rods 16. This casting 48 has depending from it, intermediate the sleeves 49, the tubular portion 50 which is tapped, as at 51,'to engage the screw-threaded portion of the screw-threaded rod 21, as

illustrated in Fig, 7, this screw-threaded rod 21 being provided with a handle whereby it may be rotated to thus shift the casting 48 longitudinally upon the frame rods'16. Ex-

tending downward through the tubular portion 50 of the casting 48 is a shank 52 which, as illustrated in Fig. 6, is longitudinally slotted, as at 53, to accommodate and fit over the screw-threaded rod 21, this shank 52 at its upper end being formed with a globular head 54. Mounted upon'this globular head is a socket which,"with the head, forms a ball and socket joint, this socket being formedin two sections '56 and 57. The section 56 is, generally speaking, concavo-convex to receive the lower half of the globular head 54 and is formed with a central opening for the passage of the shank 52 and is also formed with a lug 58 and diametrically a opposite the lug wlth the two ears 59. The sectlon 57 is formed with a V concavo-convex socket to fit over the upper portlon of the head 54 and is also formed with a hooka flat plate 62 having perforations at the corners for the passage of screws 63 whereby it is attached to a head supporting cushion 64. This head support, as illustrated in Fig. 5, is formed at its upper portion with a longitudinally extending recess or enlarged slot 65, as is usual with the head supports of chiropractic tables. Engaging the lugs 58 and 60 is a shackle or link 66 carrying at its lower end a lever 67- having an eccentric head 68 which engages the under side of the lug 58, and when this lever is turned in one position, it will draw the two'socket sections toward each other, clamping them firmly upon the ball to hold the socket sections in adjusted relation, and when it is turned in the other position, it will release the socket sections so as to permit them to be readily shifted upon the gobular head 54 or ball. By this means the head support may be readily adjusted to any desired position, and it will be noted that I have provided practically a ball and socket joint for the head support.

The sleeves 49 are perforated for the passage of set screws 69 whereby the casting 48 may be held in any desired adjusted position upon the rods 16. This casting 48 is adjusted by means of thescrew-threaded rod 21 in an obvious manner. The legs of the patient are supported by means of the leg support 70 which is likewise mounted for adjustmentupon therods 16. To this end, I provide a casting 71 having at its end the sleeves 72 which slide upon the rods 16, the middle of the casting being formed with a vertical opening 73 for the reception of a shank 74. This shankhas formed at its upperend a gooseneck 75 carrying a laterally extending, tapered head 76 which may bemade integral with the gooseneck but is preferably attached thereto by means of screws 77 and which is tapped at its outer or smaller end. A set screw 7 8 passes through the casting 71 and into the aperture 73 to engage the shank 74 and hold it in any vertical or rotatably adjusted position. Fitting over the head76 is an interiorly tapered, cup-shaped member 79, and engaging the tapped small end of the head 76 is ascrew pin 80 which passes out through an aperture in the end of the cup-shaped member 7 9, and to this projecting end of this pin 80 is attached an eccentric headed lever 81. The cup-shaped member 7 9 is formed with a curved lip or lug 82, with which the eccentric head is adapted to engage. These parts 76 and 74 together constitute a tapered friction clutch actuated by means of the eccentric lever 81. When the eccentric lever is in one position, it locks the member 7 9 of the clutch to the member 76 of the clutch, and when it is in the other position,it releases these two members and permits the member -79 to be oscillated upon the member 76 so that the leg support 71 may be tilted. This leg support 71 is attached to the member 7 9 by means of a plate .83 formed upon this Midway between thehead support and the 1 leg support is an abdominal support 84. For the purposeof mounting this abdominal support 84, I form the casting 39 with a forwardly projecting bracket which is longitudinally slotted, as at 86. Resting'upon this bracket 85 is a slide 87, (see Fig. 13) from which extends a screw-threaded shank 88 which passes through the slot 86 and is engaged by a nut 89. This slot 87 is formed with ears 90, and pivotedv to .these ears is a bar 91 which extends upward and forward and is pivoted to the under face of the body ofthe abdominal support 84. A spring 92 is connected to the forward end of the head support and to the 'bar 91 intermediateits ends. This is a contractile spring and resists depression of the abdominal support 84. A spring 93 is connected to the forward edge of the abdominal support and to this supporting bar, and a spring 94 is connected to the rear edge of the abdominal support and to this supporting bar, these springs yieldi'ngly resisting turning movement of this abdominal support. l I have heretofore adverted tothe fact'that when a patient stepped uponth'e 'foot piece 26, the weight of the patient, if the-weight is greater than the normal tension of the spring 35, will act to. shift the bars 16 downward and shift the plunger 33" inward againstthe action of the spring 35 andthat when this has occurred, the rods 16 are locked against reverse movement. Tothis end, I form the casting 22 with rearwardly extending sockets 95, (see Fi'gs.:14 and 15) within which sockets are pivoted locking.

dogs 96, the upper. ends of these dogs being formed with 'a plurality ,of'teeth adapted to engage with-ratchet teeth 97fo'rmed in the ends of the tubular rods 16. The toothedends of these dogs are forced into engagement with these ratchet teeth by means of springs Now when the. table or frame formed of the rods 16 and the castings joining-these rods is tilted toa vertical position, these studs 99 will engage the dogs96 and force the upper ends of the dogs'out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 97 onthetubular rods 16. As soon, however, as the table is tilted from its vertical position, the

dogs 96 will leave ,thestuds 99 and engage the ratchet teeth 97 and the rods 16 will be resist the depression of the table under the weight of the patient. The rollers 29, however, roll against this stop 101 and permit the free downward movement of the table under the weight of the patient and against the action of the spring 35.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: lVhen out of use the table is tilted to its vertical position. The spring 35 has a predetermined tension sufficient to support the ordinary patient without any compression of the spring 35, in other words when the table is in an upright position, the ten sion of spring 35 is just right for a light person. If now a heavier person steps on the foot board 26, the tubular rods 16 will slide through the castings 22, thus putting additional tension on the spring 35 and compressing this spring to a greater degree. The dogs 96 hold this tension, inasmuch as they engage the ratchet teeth 97 on the rods 16 just as soon as the table commences to tilt from its vertical position toward its horizontal position.

After the patient has been placed upon the table and the several supports adjusted as will be described, the table is turned from its vertical to its horizontal position,

as illustrated in Fig. 1, and as soon as the hook-shaped lug 42 engages the latch 44, the table is locked in its horizontal position. After the patient has undergone the neces 'sary chiropractic manipulations, the opera tor depresses the treadle 47, which releases the latch 44, and the tension of the spring 35 then acts to' lift the table from its horizontal to its vertical position. Just as soon as the table has reached this vertical position, the lower ends of the dogs 96 will engage the studs 99 to release these dogs, and as soon as'the patient has stepped from the table, the spring 35 will expand to its normal position.

The head support 64, as before remarked, may be adjusted longitudinally upon the rods 16 to any desired position and may be likewise tilted or rotated to any desired position and locked as adjusted. The'leg support 71 may be also shifted longitudinally upon the rods 16 or inclined to any de-.

sired degree and locked in its adjusted position. The abdominal support 84 may be adjusted longitudinally and then looked in this adjusted position, but it is held yieldingly against depression by the springs 92,

93 and 94. These springs are strong enough to hold the abdominal support against considerable pressure but will, of course, yield when a certain degree of pressure is applied to the body of the patient. It will be seen that the abdominal support may be shifted nearer to or farther from the head support and that all the supports-64, and 84 are adjustable with relation to each other and independently of each other.

A chiropractic table constructed in accordance with my invention is extremely convenient, as this table is vertical when the patient first steps upon it and remains vertical while the various supports are being adjusted to the body so that at this time the supports may be readily adjusted because of the fact that the weight of the patient is notagainst the support. After the supports are fully adjusted, then the table is turned downward, and as it moves downward it compresses the spring 35 and then the table is locked in its horizontal position, and the patient is treated. When the patient has been treated, the latch is released and the spring then acts to return the table gently to its vertical position. Qf course, it is to be understood that the chiropractic operations may be carried on while the patent is in a vertical position, if desired.

While I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention which I have found to be particularly valuable in actual practice, yet obviously I do not wish to be limited to the details of construction and the detailed arrangement of the parts illustrated, as these might be varied in many ways without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It will be seen that in my construction that one spring supplies all the lifting power necessary to permit the return of the table from its horizontal to its vertical position. This spring acts about at the center of gravity of the table, whereas in other tables known to me the springs are applied at the footboard, thus getting a very short leverage and requiring a considerable lifting power to be applied to the table in order to raise the patient to a vertical position. This spring is a compression spring, exerting more force for its size and weight than is possible with a contractile spring, and this, with the position of the spring, is what permits me to use but one spring for the purpose of lifting the tabl to its vertical position.

The head support can be inclined in all directions so that no matter how deformed a patient may be the cushion can be adjusted to fit the head perfectly by means of the ball and socket joint. The abdominal support is self-adjusting, the cushion fitting itself to the position of the patient. The tapered friction clutch'joint for the lower cushion or that cushion supporting the legs however, meant for rotative adjustment.-

The shank 74: on the lower part of the friction clutch permits the friction clutch and the cushion to be raised or. lowered and then the parts are held in this vertically adjusted position by-the set screw 78. The shank 52 for the head supporting cushion is also vertically adjustable. This allows the chiropractor to adjust these cushions to a height most convenient to him to Work, where they stay permanently.

I claim 1. A chiropracticapparatus comprising a base, a table pivoted to the base for movement from an upright position to a lowered position or vice versa, a spring urging the table to its upright position, and means on the table operableby the weight of a patient to automatically increase the tension of the spring in accordance with the weight of the patient.

2. A chiropractic apparatus including a base and a table pivoted at one end to the base for movement from a vertical to a horizontal position or vice versa, a. spring urging-the table to a vertical position, a latch detachably holding the table in a horizontal position, and means operable by the weight. of the patient for increasing the tension of the spring in accordance with the weight of the patient.

.3. A chiropractic, apparatus including a base, a table pivotally and slidably mounted upon the base and having a. foot-piece, a

spring casing pivotally connected at one endto the base, a coiled compression spring disposed within the casing, a plunger engaging said spring and having a rod extending out through the casing and .pivotally connected to the table whereby said spring will urge the table to a vertical position, latch for holding the table in a horizontal. position against the action of the spring, and means for holding thetable shifted longitudinally under the weight of a patient and against the action of said spring.

4L. A chiropractic apparatus comprising a base, a table movable from a vertical position to a horizontal position or vice versa, a spring casing pivotally connected to the base, a compression spring disposed within the casing, a plunger bearing against the.

spring and having a plunger rod pivotally connected to the table, and a latch for bold ing the table in a depressed position against the action'of said spring. 7

5. A chiropractic apparatus including a base, a table pivoted to the base for move- 7 ment. from a vertical position to a horizontal positionor v1ceversa, a spring casing pivotally mounted upon thebase and having a cap at one end formed with. a lug, a

latch mounted'upon the base for engaging I said lug'and having a foot treadle whereby;

it may be released, a coiled compression spring disposed within the casing, and a plungerjresting against said spring and having a plunger rod pivotallyconnected to the table. 7

6. A chiropractic apparatusincluding a base, a supporting member pivoted to the base for rocking movement and having sleeves, a table having longitudinal members extending through said sleeves and supported thereby, a foot board attached to one end 01"- the longitudinal members, legs attached to the other ends. of the longitudinal members, a spring casing pivotally mounted upon the base, a coiled spring disposed within the casing, a plunger in the casing bearing against the spring and pivotally connected. at one end to said rods, a latch for holding the table in a horizontal position against the action of said spring, said spring acting to urge the table to a vertical position, said rods being longitudinally shiftable through said sleeves and against the action of the spring when the table is turned to a vertical position with the weight of the patient on the foot board, and means for automatically locking the rods from vertical movement under the action of said spring when the table is turned; to a horizontal position.

7. A chiropractic apparatusincluding a base, a supporting member pivoted'to the base for rocking movement and having sleeves, a table having longitudinal members extending through said sleeves and supported thereby, a foot board attached to one end of the longitudinal members, legs attached to the other ends of the longitudinal members, a spring casing pivotally mounted upon the base, a coiled spring dis;

table is turned to a-vertical position with the'weight of the patient on the, foot board, means for automatically locking the rods from vertical movement under theaction of said springwhen the table is turned to a horizontal position, said means including spring actuated dogs carried by said supporting member, and ratchet teeth carried by the said rods and with which the dogs engage. Y

8. A chiropractic apparatus including a base, a supporting member pivoted to the base for rocking movement and having sleeves, a table having longitudinal members extendingthrough said sleeves and supported thereby, a foot board attached to one end of the longitudinal members, legs attached;

to the other ends of the longitudinal me1nbers, a spring casing pivotally mounted upon the base, a coiled spring disposed within the casing, a plunger in the casing bearing against the spring and pivotally connected at one end to said rods, a latch for holding the table in a horizontal position against the action of said spring, said spring acting to urge the table to a vertical position, said rods being longitudinally shiftable through said sleeves and against the action of the spring when the table is turned to a vertical position with the weight of the patlent on the foot board, means for automatically locking the rods from vertical movement under the action of said spring when the table is turned to a horizontal position, said means including spring actuated dogs carried by said supporting member, ratchet teeth carried by the said rods and with which the dogs engage, and means for automatically disengaging said dogs from the ratchet teeth when the table is turned to a vertical position.

9. A chiropractic apparatus includinga base, a supporting member pivoted to the base for rocking movement and having sleeves, a table having longitudinal members extending through said sleeves and supported thereby, a foot board attached to one end of thelongitudinal members, legs attached to the other ends of the longitudinal members, a spring casing pivotally mounted upon the base, a coiled spring disposed within the casing, a plunger in the casing bearing against the spring and pivotally connected at one end to said rods, a latch for holding the table in a horizontal position against the action of said spring, said spring acting to urge the table to a vertical position, said rods being longitudinally shiftable throu h said sleeves and against the action of t e spring when the table is turned to a vertical position with the weight of the patient on the foot board, means for automatically locking the rods from vertical movement under the action of said spring when the table is turned to a horizontal position, said means including spring actuated dogs car ried by said supporting member, ratchet teeth carried by the said rods and with which the dogs engage, and studs mounted upon the base and engageable with said dogs when the table is turned to a vertical position to shift the do s out of engagement with the ratchet teeth.

10. A chiropractic apparatus including a base, a supporting member pivoted to the base for rocking movement and having sleeves, a table having longitudinal members extending through said sleeves and supported thereby, a foot board attached to one end of the longitudinal members, legs attached to the other ends of the longitudinal mem- 1 ,eeegeoa bers, a spring casing pivotally mounted upon i the base, acoiled spring disposed .within the casing, a plunger in the casing bearing against the spring. and pivotally connected at one end to said rods, a latch for holding the table in ahorizontal position against the foot board, means for automatically locking the rods from vertical movement under the action of said spring when the table is turned to a horizontal position, means for releasing said locking means when the table and rods of the table are turned to a vertical position, a stop mounted upon the base, and rollers carried by the ends-of the rods and bearing against the stop, said rollers permitting vertical movement of the table rods relative to the base and stop.

11. A chiropractic table including longitudinal rods, a member having sliding move ment along said rods, a rotatable screwthreaded rod having screw-threaded engagement with said slidable member, and a head support mounted upon and carried by said slidable member, said head support being rotatably adjustable around a vertical axis and adjustable into different inclinations to a horizontal plane.

12. A chiropractic table having longitudinally extending rods, a member slidable along said rods and adjustable thereon, a shank rotatably adjustable in said member and having a globular head, a head support having a socket fitting the globular head and adjustable thereon, and means for lockingthe socket in. its adjusted position upon the head.

13. A chiropractic table having logitudinally extending rods, a member slidable along said rods and-adjustable thereon, a shank rotatably adjustable in said member and having a globular head, a head support having a socket fitting the globular head andadjustable thereon, means for locking the socket in its adjusted position upon the head, said socket consisting of two hemispherical members hinged to each other and having outwardly projecting lugs opposite said hinged connection of the sockets, links connecting said lugs, and an eccentriclever engaging said links and "one of said lugs to close the sockets. on the head.

14. A chiropractic table including longitudinally extending rods, a member slidable upon said rods and adjustable to different positions thereon, a shank extending through said member and rotatably adjustable therein, a leg support, a clutch connection between the leg support'and said shank, the clutch connection including a tapering head mounted upon the shank, a tapering cup-shaped member carried by the leg support and en gaging said head, and manually operable means for drawing the cup-shaped member and the head into frictional engagement with each other.

15. A chiropractic table including longitudinally extending members, a member mounted upon said longitudinal members for longitudinal adjustment therealong, a bar pivoted to said member, an abdominal support pivoted to the upper end of the bar, and springs resisting depression of said bar.

16. A chiropractic table including longitudinally extending members, a brace connecting said members and having a slotted, longitudinal extension, a slide mounted upon said extension and operatively engaging said slot, a bar pivoted to the slide, an abdominal support pivotally mounted upon the bar, a contractile spring resisting depression of the free end of the bar, and contractile springs resisting tilting movement of the abdominal support.

17. A chiropractic apparatus comprlslng a base, a table pivoted adjacent one end to the base for movement from a vertical to a horizontal position and vice versa, and a compression sprlng operatively pivoted at one end to the base, and a plunger bearing against said spring and operatively pivoted to the table adjacent a point midway between the ends of the table.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

CHARLES H. SCHREINER. 

